Courtney Knox
Vice President, National Leadership and Education
Courtney Knox is the Vice President of National Leadership and Education at the Center for Community Progress, responsible for the strategic direction, vision, growth, and performance of Community Progress’ most visible, high-impact initiatives.
With nearly two decades of experience in equitable neighborhood revitalization, Knox brings to her role a strong background in understanding the root causes of vacancy and abandonment and equitable solutions to create safe, healthy, resilient, and inclusive neighborhoods. She is known for crafting dynamic, informative, and inclusive leadership and educational opportunities, such as the flagship Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference, Vacant Property Leadership Institute, and the Community Revitalization Fellowship.
Since 2016, Knox has created over ten new initiatives reaching tens of thousands of public sector, private sector, civic, and community leaders; created a financially sound program with a diverse number of funders; and built an internal structure to ensure successful delivery of programming.
Immediately prior to her current role, Knox served as the Associate Director of Michigan Initiatives at Community Progress where she helped communities across the state build systems and capacity to prevent and reuse vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated property. Working closely with communities in Michigan, she helped to create land bank authorities; facilitated the development and adoption of policies and procedures, programs for acquisition, disposition, and interim use; and developed educational programming for land bank staff and elected officials in Michigan.
Knox began her career as a staff accountant specializing in governmental accounting. This work led her to the Genesee County Land Bank Authority and Genesee Institute where she recognized the legacy of unjust laws, policies, and systems that cause some communities to bear an unfair share of vacancy and abandonment. This fostered her passion for creating equitable communities that provide opportunities for all. Through this work, she oversaw the day-to-day accounting operations and managed strategy development and financial management of the land bank’s disposition programs.
Knox earned a MPA from the University of Michigan and a BA in Accounting from Michigan State University.